Chemical Equations

• What are chemical equations fundamental to?

  Chemistry
• How are chemical changes shown?

  Using chemical equations
• What is a word equation?

  A way to show a chemical reaction
• What are the reactants in a chemical equation?

  The molecules on the left-hand side
• What is the word equation for methane burning in oxygen?

  Methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
• What do symbol equations show?

  The symbols or formulae of reactants and products
• Why must chemical equations be balanced?

  To ensure the same number of atoms on both sides
• How do you balance a chemical equation?

  By putting numbers in front of the formulae
• What happens if the number of atoms doesn't match in a chemical equation?

  It indicates the equation is unbalanced
• In the equation H₂SO₄ + NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + H₂O, what is unbalanced?

  The number of hydrogen atoms
• What adjustment is made to balance hydrogen atoms in the equation?

  Change H₂O to 2H₂O
• What is the next step after adjusting H₂O to 2H₂O?

  Adjust NaOH to 2NaOH
• What does the final balanced equation H₂SO₄ + 2NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + 2H₂O indicate?

  All atoms are balanced on both sides
• What is the process for balancing chemical equations?

  1. Identify unbalanced elements.
  2. Pencil in numbers to balance.
  3. Adjust as necessary until balanced.
• What is the first question in the revision section about balancing equations?

  Balance the equation: Fe + Cl₂ → FeCl
• What is the second question in the revision section about water splitting?

  State the word equation and give a balanced symbol equation
• What are the key components of a balanced chemical equation?

  • Same number of each type of atom
  • Correct formulas for reactants and products
  • Coefficients in front of formulas to balance